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Archive through May 12, 2013Slowride30 05-12-13  12:52 pm
         

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Uly_man
Posted on Monday, May 13, 2013 - 03:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"I do not see any damage at all but the reflectors just look very slightly hazy, if I look real close. Maybe that's normal when running any kind of bulb?". They should be clean and shiny like, as they are, a mirror. High Wattage Halogens, from the extra heat, can damage the surface and cut the light. Age has an effect as well. Once they are gone they are "gone".

Take care about the HID system you buy. The one you want is with the lamp that has the red and blue wires from it which is made from silicon. It also has a metal mount and a ceramic base to the lamp. The DDM version has (or looks like that version) a plastic mount, the lamp is glued in and the wires, all black, are just normal insulation.
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Kublak
Posted on Monday, May 13, 2013 - 10:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I may have missed this elsewhere. But has anyone done the dual light mod along with an HID upgrade to the lowbeam?

Curious if any problems arose.

Thinking of a DDM 35W 4500k low, with mod to run highbeam and lowbeam on low, and just highbeam solo.

Opinions? Thanks, and don't mean to be hijacking.
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Slowride
Posted on Monday, May 13, 2013 - 11:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Kublak,
I did that exact thing on both my Uly's. Same setup as you mentioned with the same 4300k. No issues, just like walking in the sun when i pulled into some place like T.W.O for Marchbadness or Buelltoberfest.

If you lost something on the ground, I just cranked up the uly and used as a spot light.
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Etennuly
Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 09:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

OP:What can I do do improve my factory low and high beam lights? What options do i have and what is the most cost effective?

Well first I take off my sunglasses, then I change out my dark shield for the clear one, and I run both light on at the same time. Also at night I do not go as fast (usually) due to the nocturnal ankle biters that visit the highways in Tennessee.
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Uly_man
Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - 01:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There are a number of things you can do to make this, even the 10 bike, a better machine and almost all cost very little. Some cost nothing.

The two big ones, in my opinion, are the lights and the front end dive. Both can be done in varied ways depending on what you like or your situation.

HID lights do not have a down side. Easy to fit, use less power, cheap, a light quality better than any aftermarket lamp and you can retro fit a Halogen if needed ie you in the middle of no place and you need a new lamp.
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Chorizo
Posted on Saturday, May 18, 2013 - 03:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I went with the suggested DDM and the low beam is awesome but seems the high beam is really wimpy.
Anybody have the same result? Like others said the low beam is enough. But why the dim high beam? I was considering two low beam bulbs.
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Uly_man
Posted on Saturday, May 18, 2013 - 04:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

They should be the same.

Swap the high beam lamp to the low beam ballast. If the light is good, like your low beam lamp, your high beam ballast may be bad. But before you send it back wire it up to a battery off the bike to be sure its not a bad Earth on the bike as HIDs need a good one to work right.
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Tleighbell
Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2013 - 09:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Anyone tried the HID kit from American Sportsbike? Way more dinero than the DDM but they are a sponsor.
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Djohnk
Posted on Monday, May 20, 2013 - 01:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I added supplemental LED driving lights from here: PlashLights.com

Following their advice I purchased the $110 16 Watt set and they were of surprisingly high quality.
For that price a wiring harness and switch is included (although the switch wasn't weatherproof, so I used something different).
I mounted mine in the stock front blinkers holes with no modification required.

Besides significantly improving night visibility, I use them as driving lights in the day and people don't pull out in front of me as much as they used to.

One of the best purchases I have made for the bike in awhile.
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